From 25–29 May 2026, members of the GreenPATH project participated in the 2nd International Symposium on Green and Sustainable Chemistry and the 8th International Conference on Biocatalysis in Non-Conventional Media, held in Cartagena, Spain.

Mariana I. S. Aguiar presented the work entitled “Enhancing Laccase-Driven Poly(vinyl alcohol) Depolymerization Using Polyol-Based Biosolvents”. The work focused on the use of polyol-based biosolvents to modulate laccase activity and improve greener enzymatic approaches for poly(vinyl alcohol) depolymerization.

João A. P. Coutinho presented the communication “Selective Colorant Removal from Plastic Packaging via Bio-Based Solvent Extraction”, focused on the use of bio-based solvents for the selective extraction of colorants from plastic packaging to improve polymer recovery and recycling efficiency.

From 18–20 May 2026, members of the GreenPATH project participated in the 10th Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference, held in Dresden, Germany, presenting recent advances on enzymatic polymer degradation and computational tools for selective plastic separation.

Mariana I. S. Aguiar presented the work entitled “Orchestrating Degradation: The Combined Potential of Laccase and Biosolvents for Polymer Degradation”. The work explored the synergistic role of biosolvents and laccase in promoting greener polymer degradation pathways and improving enzymatic performance.

Mariana I. S. Aguiar also presented the communication “Solving the Plastic Puzzle: COSMO-RS Predictions for Selective Polymer Separation”, focused on the use of COSMO-RS computational modelling to predict solvent–polymer interactions and support selective polymer separation strategies for improved recycling processes.

Mariana I. S. Aguiar received the 1st Place Award in the Sustainability category at the Royal Society of Chemistry Global Online Poster Conference (#RSCPoster 2026), held online on 3–4 March 2026.

The award-winning poster, entitled “Greener Routes to Break Down Poly(vinyl alcohol): Laccase in Polyol-Based Biosolvents”, was developed in collaboration with Daniela Espínola, Maria Inês C. Santos, João A. P. Coutinho, Ana P. M. Tavares, Frederik R. Wurm, Andreia F. Sousa and Ana M. Ferreira.

The work explored the use of polyol-based biosolvents to modulate laccase activity and promote greener strategies for the degradation of poly(vinyl alcohol), contributing to the development of more sustainable approaches for polymer degradation and plastic waste management.

Congratulations to the entire team on this achievement.

More details are available on the CICECO and RSC websites.

From 15–20 December 2025, members of the GreenPATH project participated in Pacifichem 2025 | The International Chemical Congress of Pacific Basin Societies, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, presenting recent research on sustainable plastic recycling and enzymatic degradation strategies.

Ana M. Ferreira presented the communication entitled “Plastic Waste Odyssey: Navigating Circular Transformation Using Greener Solvents and Enzymes”, focused on the integration of alternative solvents and enzymatic approaches to support more sustainable and circular plastic waste management strategies.

Mariana I. S. Aguiar presented the work “The Kaleidoscope of Biodegradation: Shifting Perspectives with Laccase and Biosolvents”, addressing the role of biosolvents in modulating laccase activity and promoting greener pathways for polymer degradation.

During the conference, the team also had the opportunity to visit the Center for Marine Debris Research at Hawaii Pacific University, following an invitation from Professor Jennifer Lynch. The visit enabled scientific exchange on polymer identification, additive screening and microplastic quantification using Py-GCMS and solvent-based methodologies, including solvent dissolution and precipitation strategies for polymer separation and environmental microplastic analysis, further strengthening international connections in the field of sustainable plastics research.

From 10–12 November 2025, members of the GreenPATH project participated in the XXIX Encontro Luso-Galego de Química, held in Braga, Portugal, presenting recent advances on sustainable strategies for plastic recycling and enzymatic polymer degradation. 

Daniela L. Espínola presented the work entitled “Study of Laccase Activity in the Degradation of Poly(vinyl alcohol) Using Biobased Polyols”. The work focused on the evaluation of biobased polyol media to modulate laccase activity and support greener approaches for the degradation of water-soluble polymers.

Marco Prazeres presented the communication “Removal of Additives from Plastic to Enhance Recycling”. The work addressed the impact of additives on recycling efficiency and explored sustainable strategies for their selective removal to improve polymer recovery and circularity.

From 13–15 October 2025, Ana M. Ferreira participated in the 2025 Conference of the ECUST–University of Aveiro Joint Research Center for Sustainable Chemistry and Materials, held at East China University of Science and Technology (ECUST) in Shanghai, China.

Representing the GreenPATH project, she delivered the presentation “Plastic Alchemy: Greener Approaches to Polymer Recycling”, showcasing recent advances in greener solvents and enzymatic routes for the circular recycling of engineering plastics.

The conference provided an excellent platform to strengthen research collaboration between ECUST and the University of Aveiro and to exchange ideas with scientists committed to sustainability and innovation in materials science.

You can read the full post here, and explore additional media coverage here and here (in Chinese).

GreenPATH researchers took part in Jornadas CICECO 2025: Navigating the Borders of Knowledge, held on 9 October 2025 in Ílhavo, Portugal, where ongoing work on sustainable polymer processing and recycling was presented.

Daniela Espínola presented the contribution “Towards Sustainable Degradation of Poly(vinyl alcohol): Laccase Activity Boosted by Biobased Polyols”, highlighting the potential of biobased polyols to enhance laccase performance and promote greener degradation pathways for water-soluble polymers.

Marco Prazeres presented the work “Enhancing Plastic Recycling through Additive Removal with Biobased Solvents”, focused on the selective extraction of additives using bio-based solvents as a strategy to improve recycling efficiency and polymer valorisation.

From 20–24 July 2025, Ana M. Ferreira attended ICCT2025 | 27th IUPAC International Conference on Chemical Thermodynamics in Porto, Portugal. Representing the GreenPATH project, she presented the poster titled “Paving the way to a sustainable future: COSMO-RS as a tool to identify eutectic solvents for selective polymer dissolution”, showcasing computational thermodynamics (COSMO-RS) screening to predict solvent–polymer selectivity and guide sustainable polymer recovery processes. 

From June 22–27, 2025, Mariana Aguiar participated in the European Polymer Congress, held in Groningen, the Netherlands, which gathered international researchers working on polymer science and innovation.

Representing the GreenPATH project, she presented two posters: "Smart solvent design: using COSMO-RS to unlock selective polymer dissolution", demonstrating how computational solvent screening can improve the selectivity of polymer recovery processes; and "Enhancing the potential of laccase-driven biodegradation of polymers using biosolvents", which explored how alternative solvents can promote enzymatic depolymerisation.

These contributions highlight GreenPATH’s interdisciplinary approach to advancing sustainable polymer recycling through the integration of computational chemistry and biocatalysis. 

From June 15 to 20, 2025, Ana M. Ferreira participated in the Joint Meeting, the 14th International Symposium on Supercritical Fluids and the 9th International Solvothermal and Hydrothermal Association Conference, held in Bali, Indonesia, which gathered leading researchers in green chemistry, fluid-phase technologies, and sustainable material processing.

Representing the GreenPATH project, she delivered an oral presentation entitled "Plastic waste metamorphosis: greener solvents and enzymes for circular transformation". The presentation comprised two independent studies: one focused on COSMO RS guided screening of eutectic solvents for selective dissolution of commodity and bio based polymers, and the other on enhancing HDPE biodegradation through additive removal and enzymatic treatment with laccase.

These contributions addressed key conference topics such as green chemistry, sustainable feedstock utilization, and polymer processing, aligning with the event’s theme “Convergence Technology of the Green Future” and contributing to the discussion on innovative strategies for circular plastics management.

From May 12–16, 2025, Ana M. Ferreira participated in the International Symposium on Green Chemistry (ISGC 2025), held in La Rochelle, France, which brought together leading researchers in sustainable chemistry and circular economy.

Representing the GreenPATH project, she delivered an oral presentation entitled "Advancing polymer recycling: COSMO-RS-guided selection of eutectic solvents for selective dissolution", highlighting the use of computational tools to enable greener plastic recycling strategies. She also presented a poster on "The Role of Additives in the Enzymatic Degradation of High-Density Polyethylene", discussing how additive removal can enhance the biodegradation of plastic waste.

These contributions reflect GreenPATH’s commitment to developing sustainable solutions for polymer recovery and valorization.

Mariana I. S. Aguiar received the Best Poster Award at the 9th Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference, held in Pune, India, from March 4–6, 2025.

Her award-winning poster, "Enhancing Plastic Waste Recycling: Investigating the Impact of Additives on Polymer Degradation via Laccase from Trametes versicolor", was co-authored with Andreia F. Sousa, Ana P. M. Tavares, Ana M. Ferreira, and João A. P. Coutinho.

The study demonstrates how the removal of additives from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) can significantly improve enzymatic degradation, contributing to more efficient and sustainable plastic recycling strategies.

Congratulations to the entire team on this remarkable achievement!
More details are available on the CICECO and University of Aveiro websites.

From March 4-6, 2025, members of our team participated in the 9th Green and Sustainable Chemistry Conference (9th GSCC), held in Pune, India. This international forum brought together leading researchers and innovators in sustainable chemistry to explore advances in polymer recycling, green solvents, energy storage, and biomass valorization.

Dr. Ana M. Ferreira, Dr. Filipe Sosa, and PhD candidate Mariana I. S. Aguiar contributed to the event with the following presentations:

• Oral presentation "COSMO-RS as a tool to identify eutectic solvents for selective polymer dissolution", showcasing computational approaches to guide greener polymer recycling strategies.

• Poster presentation "Enhancing the recycling of plastic waste by evaluating the impact of additives on the enzymatic degradation of polymers", which was awarded Best Poster of the conference. The work emphasized the role of additive removal in improving enzymatic depolymerization of HDPE.

These contributions highlight the team’s commitment to advancing sustainable polymer processing and promoting circular economy solutions within the GreenPATH initiative.